IS 504 covers ceramic glazed tiles for walls and floors. Tiles are classified by water absorption: BIII (>10%, wall only), BIIb (3-6%, light floor), BIa (<0.5%, porcelain/vitrified for heavy-duty floors). ISI mark is mandatory for tiles sold in India.
Specification for ceramic glazed tiles for wall and floor applications covering classification, dimensions, physical properties, and testing.
Key Values
BIa (porcelain) water absorption< 0.5%
BIb (vitrified) water absorption0.5 - 3.0%
BIII (wall tile) water absorption> 10%
Practical Notes
! NEVER use wall tiles (BIII, >10% absorption) on floors — they are too soft and will crack under traffic.
! For wet areas (bathrooms, pool decks), specify slip resistance class R10 or R11.
! PEI 3 is sufficient for residential floors. PEI 4-5 for commercial/high-traffic areas.
! Vitrified tiles (BIb, <3% absorption) are the most popular floor tiles in Indian residential construction.
! Check shade variation code — V1 is uniform, V4 is random variation.